Workers’ Comp & Leaves
The Lucia Mar Unified School District offers a variety of leaves options to eligible employees such as Catastrophic Leave, Extended Illness Leave, Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Industrial Accident Leave, Unpaid Leave of Absence (LOA), Parental Bonding Leave (PBL), etc.
Employees are required to contact Human Resources in the event an employee may need to be absent from work for an extended period of time (5+ days) due to injury/illness of the employee or the employee’s immediate family. It is requested that any foreseeable leaves be requested 30 days prior to the beginning of the leave. If your leave is due to medical reasons you will need to have your physician complete the Physician’s Healthcare Certification form and turn that in with your completed paperwork. Health benefits may be impacted when an employee has no paid leave available.
The goal of the Lucia Mar Unified School District is to ensure that appropriate benefits are paid promptly and accurately to employees with work-related injuries/illnesses. Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated program, funded completely by the employer, and is designed to guarantee the payment of specified benefits to employees who are injured on the job. The District is self-insured for workers’ compensation benefits, and such benefits are paid using district funds.
Athens Administrators is the claims administrator for the District’s workers’ compensation claims. Athens can be reached toll-free at 1-866-482-3535.
ALL EMPLOYEES MUST REPORT A WORK RELATED INJURY WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE INJURY OCCURING.
Employees must complete the Lucia Mar Unified School District Accident Report Form regardless if seeking medical treatment.
INJURY REPORTING STEPS if INJURED at WORK:
- Report injury immediately to Supervisor, Site Secretary and Human Resources.
- If IMMEDIATE medical treatment is needed, contact Human Resources.
- Complete Employee Accident Report within 24 hours of the injury.
- If medical attention is sought, DO NOT RETURN TO WORK. Contact Human Resources and provide a copy of Physician’s Return-to-Work Evaluation documentation or other medical note indicating work status.
WHEN SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT for INJURY:
The District’s designated medical facility is:
Urgent Care of Pismo Beach
2 James Way, Suite 214 - Pismo Beach, CA 93449.
Injuries that occur after normal work hours may be treated at any urgent care or hospital emergency room. Employees should be aware a follow up appointment at the workers’ compensation designated medical facility will be required to establish follow up appointments.
Employees seeking medical treatment outside of the District’s designated medical facility will need to verify the provider accepts and treats workers’ compensation injuries.
An employee who seeks treatment from a physician who does not accept workers’ compensation, may bear the responsibility for costs associated with the visit.
If an employee did not initially seek medical treatment, but the injury becomes worse, the employee must contact Human Resources before seeking any treatment.
AFTER MEDICAL TREATMENT is RECEIVED for INJURY:
- Employee must acquire Physician’s Return-to-Work Evaluation documentation from medical provider, which should include any restrictions that may interfere with regular work duties.
- Provide Physician’s Return-to-Work Evaluation documentation to Human Resources
- If an employee is taken off work by the physician, Human Resources will enter absences into Frontline.
Return to work only if and when Human Resources provides clearance to return-to-work.